Elie Mundima

Category: Outside of Virunga | Date: Apr 16 2007 | By: admin

Just recently I went to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Epulu, and above you can see me with a habituated Okapi.

It has always been believed that the endangered Okapi are only to be found in Epulu, but now with our recent patrols in the area, we now have strong evidence to believe that they can also be found in the north of the park, around Djuma. It is at this point that I would like to give a big thank you to all those who have donated money to the Congo Rangers, as it is thanks to what we have bought from this money, tents and boots etc, which has made it possible for us to go out on so many patrols.

Now, with the knowledge that we are gaining from these patrols, I would like to in the future, if possible, do the same as in Epulu and conserve the Okapi because they are such an endangered species.

On our next patrol to Djuma we are going to go with Scientific Conservationists from WWF to do research on the trails and the dung found in this habitat, because we need to know how suitable it is for the okapi and whether it would be a good idea to have a project here. The tall trees that I have seen at Epulu are the same species that we have seen near Juma and Mukakati, so I am truly hoping that it will be possible to start a project as the okapi are such magnificent creatures.

Technorati : Congo Rangers, Epulu, Okapi, WildlifeDirect

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